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Queue Jumper?
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Is this queue jumping or a smart driving hack?
So say you are approaching a roundabout to turn left and there is a long queue in the lefthand lane. But the righthand lane is free. Do you move over into the righthand lane, turn right around the roundabout, and off down your target road?
To me it's queue jumping and just not cricket but over 80% thought it was a smart hack and acceptable. What to FAB drivers think? |
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If traffic on the roundabout is heavy enough to create a tailback in the left lane I'm not sure how someone in the right lane is going to enter the roundabout any faster.
If the left hand exit is blocked and stopping traffic from entering it, those already on the roundabout won't be able to exit either so to me it's just another stupid but impractical social media hack. |
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"If traffic on the roundabout is heavy enough to create a tailback in the left lane I'm not sure how someone in the right lane is going to enter the roundabout any faster.
If the left hand exit is blocked and stopping traffic from entering it, those already on the roundabout won't be able to exit either so to me it's just another stupid but impractical social media hack. "
Obviously if there are multiple exits and it keeps traffic flowing I don't see anything wrong with it as long as you actually go around the roundabout and don't try exiting from the right lane. |
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I’m not really following your example OP, if the left hand lane is backed up this is because they cannot gain access to the roundabout, this will be because there is a constant flow of traffic from their right, which as per roundabout rules, they have to giveway too.
If there is a constant flow of vehicles from the right then vehicles in the right hand access lane will not be able to enter the roundabout either. 
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I see loads doing it.
It doesn’t really bother me. They’re saving seconds at worst, or a minute at best. Hardly earth shattering time saving.
I take routes that avoid the traffic hotspots. I prefer to drive a mile or two extra, but stay moving.
I don’t drive a whole heap anymore anyway. It’s too much of a chore. |
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In the vast majority of circumstances, it actually makes the journey quicker for those stuck in the left lane too.
Something to do with flow-rates and easing of capacities.
Even though it seems counter-intuitive.
So I do it.
Plus, I like roundabouts.
Wheeeeeee..... |
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This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter? |
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"This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter?"
I filter because it keeps things flowing. It's called the zipper method. |
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"This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter?"
If people have chosen not to filter until the very last opportunity, (lets be honest they just wanted to jump as many cars as possible), I don’t let them in, fuck’em. |
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always best to read the arrows painted on the road.
some left hand lane approaches have an arrow indicating "left only"
The right and lane arrow could indicate "ahead only"
However, in my case , the right hand lane arrow indicates "straight and left.
I notice many folk in the wrong lane at roundabouts as they simply dont look at the huge white road markings advising where that lane goes. |
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It does depend on whether the roundabout has traffic lights on it. We have a couple of roundabouts near here that often have this situation and I will normally do what you suggest in the one that doesn’t have traffic lights on it. It is not worth doing in the one with traffic lights as you get stuck more often than not. It is completely within the rules and so fair game.
It is the same as people filtering far too early when the road narrows - you are supposed to drive to the end and then filter but almost no one does and then they get super angry when you actually drive properly. |
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You mean a slingshot? I don't see the issue, it's keeping traffic flowing and stopping the queue backing up even more than it needs to be in the left.
Just as a zipper merge does.
But the same applies if you are just going ahead. It keeps traffic flowing, and so long as it's done safe it should be done. |
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"Interesting responses. If this was a queue in a supermarket or chip shop nobody would dare jump the queue. But put people in a tin box and they have no qualms! What's that all about?"
In a supermarket everyone is queueing for the till.
On a roundabout not everyone is going the same way. |
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By (user no longer on site) 11 weeks ago
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This happens on a roundabout near me. LH lane marked to go straight on and left, RH lane dedicated right turn. The majority of traffic wants to go straight on and backs up badly as cannot exit due to queuing beyond.
I have no issue with vehicles using RH Lane to go around the roundabout to turn left. What I do have an issue with is selfish gits going all the way around the roundabout to then go straight on (as then have priority on the roundabout over the queuing traffic trying to join). This is defo queue jumping, and not British. |
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"Interesting responses. If this was a queue in a supermarket or chip shop nobody would dare jump the queue. But put people in a tin box and they have no qualms! What's that all about?
In a supermarket everyone is queueing for the till.
On a roundabout not everyone is going the same way."
Indeed.
There are also some very clear rules and/or laws when it comes to roads and vehicles that "queuing" people often ignore because they feel offended by such things.
While a supermarket queue is entirely based upon manners alone. |
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"Interesting responses. If this was a queue in a supermarket or chip shop nobody would dare jump the queue. But put people in a tin box and they have no qualms! What's that all about?
In a supermarket everyone is queueing for the till.
On a roundabout not everyone is going the same way.
Indeed.
There are also some very clear rules and/or laws when it comes to roads and vehicles that "queuing" people often ignore because they feel offended by such things.
While a supermarket queue is entirely based upon manners alone. "
100% this - a lot of people think they are good drivers because they are “kind”. Being “kind” is often the worse thing to do. If people drove to the rules rather than being “kind” then there would be less accidents and the roads would flow better. |
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"Interesting responses. If this was a queue in a supermarket or chip shop nobody would dare jump the queue. But put people in a tin box and they have no qualms! What's that all about?
In a supermarket everyone is queueing for the till.
On a roundabout not everyone is going the same way.
Indeed.
There are also some very clear rules and/or laws when it comes to roads and vehicles that "queuing" people often ignore because they feel offended by such things.
While a supermarket queue is entirely based upon manners alone.
100% this - a lot of people think they are good drivers because they are “kind”. Being “kind” is often the worse thing to do. If people drove to the rules rather than being “kind” then there would be less accidents and the roads would flow better."
Kind or self important. The whole zipper merge debate viewed as queue jumping when the highway code states what you should do. And it's done that way to stop a single lane queue backing up further and further - people don't care about the why, they just view it as lane jumpers going to the point of merge to get in. They don't care about what issues it causes behind them in the queue, only at their point in the queue. |
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By *bi HaiveMan 11 weeks ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
"I’m not really following your example OP, if the left hand lane is backed up this is because they cannot gain access to the roundabout, this will be because there is a constant flow of traffic from their right, which as per roundabout rules, they have to giveway too.
If there is a constant flow of vehicles from the right then vehicles in the right hand access lane will not be able to enter the roundabout either.
"
They will.
Because many roundabouts have boxed junctions leaving space for people going straight or turning right if the left exit is congested. Add in the 'give way to the right' rule and this method does work. Even with heavy traffic in the left lane you'll be able to get on the roundabout and once on there everyone approaching it has to give you right of way, so just drive all the way round and leave ahead of the queuing traffic you passed.
Is it queue jumping? Yes.
But it works. 🤷♂️ |
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Doesnt apply to me.
Being on the bike, there's usually room to filter to the front (as long as it can be done safely and without causing inconvenience to other road users).
Been doing it for over 36years and never had any problems- well except that time someone had decided to dump half their diesel all over the roundabout.
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By *enelope2UWoman 11 weeks ago
Doesn't matter cant block distances |
It's called intelligence..most lack the foresight to do it but get angry that they weren't clever enough to do so themselves.
Just as people are unaware how to read merge lane signs and know the zipper technique..
updated highway codes are rarely read yet alone known by most drivers. |
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"It's not a social media hack. Been doing it for 30+ years. It doesn't work on every roundabout. But on the ones it does, it really does."
this... and as the traffic has to give way to the traffic already on the roundabout it can save considerable time.
I do it sometimes x
Cali |
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By *AJMLKTV/TS 11 weeks ago
Burley |
"Is this queue jumping or a smart driving hack?
So say you are approaching a roundabout to turn left and there is a long queue in the lefthand lane. But the righthand lane is free. Do you move over into the righthand lane, turn right around the roundabout, and off down your target road?
To me it's queue jumping and just not cricket but over 80% thought it was a smart hack and acceptable. What to FAB drivers think?"
I have no issue with using roads in this manner. If you're queuing unnecessarily, you're using more fuel and pumping more crap into the atmosphere. I prefer to be more eco-conscious and progress more efficiently on the roads for this reason. That's my excuse for being a queue-jumping arse-hat and I'm bloody sticking to it |
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"It's called intelligence..most lack the foresight to do it but get angry that they weren't clever enough to do so themselves.
Just as people are unaware how to read merge lane signs and know the zipper technique..
updated highway codes are rarely read yet alone known by most drivers."
So in a long, single line bank queue with several windows open, why isn't it deemed intelligent just to walk up to a window at any time? |
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"It's called intelligence..most lack the foresight to do it but get angry that they weren't clever enough to do so themselves.
Just as people are unaware how to read merge lane signs and know the zipper technique..
updated highway codes are rarely read yet alone known by most drivers.
So in a long, single line bank queue with several windows open, why isn't it deemed intelligent just to walk up to a window at any time?"
We went over this above.
Roads and vehicles have very strict rules and laws. Stated in detail within the highway code.
A queue of people standing is no more than a queue based upon manners, nothing else. |
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It's a touch situational but it could well have benefits not just to oneself.
E.g. if the queue is tailing back it could be causing an obstruction at another junction or roundabout and you may be alleviating that. |
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"It's a touch situational but it could well have benefits not just to oneself.
E.g. if the queue is tailing back it could be causing an obstruction at another junction or roundabout and you may be alleviating that."
You take that very logical and sound reasoning of facts out of here! It causes feelings to get hurt.
It has no place within these walls. |
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"It's called intelligence..most lack the foresight to do it but get angry that they weren't clever enough to do so themselves.
Just as people are unaware how to read merge lane signs and know the zipper technique..
updated highway codes are rarely read yet alone known by most drivers.
So in a long, single line bank queue with several windows open, why isn't it deemed intelligent just to walk up to a window at any time?
We went over this above.
Roads and vehicles have very strict rules and laws. Stated in detail within the highway code.
A queue of people standing is no more than a queue based upon manners, nothing else. "
Indeed. Isn't it equally a queue in a vehicle? My point is why don't manners extend to driving? |
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"Are 75% of these people BMW drivers?
Ouch!! But yes, there are definitely car brand driver 'types' that have their own ermm....style of driving."
I drive an Audi. Obviously I'm entitled to several additional meters of road than the average car owner  |
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"It's called intelligence..most lack the foresight to do it but get angry that they weren't clever enough to do so themselves.
Just as people are unaware how to read merge lane signs and know the zipper technique..
updated highway codes are rarely read yet alone known by most drivers.
So in a long, single line bank queue with several windows open, why isn't it deemed intelligent just to walk up to a window at any time?
We went over this above.
Roads and vehicles have very strict rules and laws. Stated in detail within the highway code.
A queue of people standing is no more than a queue based upon manners, nothing else.
Indeed. Isn't it equally a queue in a vehicle? My point is why don't manners extend to driving?"
Because guidelines, regulations, rules and laws trump manners and feelings.
Safe and steady traffic flow should always be priority over manners.
I'm not saying what these people are doing is correct or helpful in every single situation. However intentional or not what they are doing in most cases is actually helping the flow of traffic.
A few fun things to consider.
Roughly half of people with a driving license would fail if they took their test again, roughly half of those people only passed their test originally through sheer dumb luck compared to other drivers - a combination of easy test route and favourable driving conditions and situations on the day. |
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"This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter?"
Definitely this. Use both lanes. The signs nearly always say this too. "The Zipper", used properly, works much more quickly than queueing in the LH lane for everyone - flow dynamics. |
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"This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter?
Definitely this. Use both lanes. The signs nearly always say this too. "The Zipper", used properly, works much more quickly than queueing in the LH lane for everyone - flow dynamics."
It's not a 'zipper' merge, it's known as the 'slingshot' manoeuvre (by going all around the roundabout). It's not strictly illegal as others point out, although could be regarded as misuse of lanes and bring 3 Points. |
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"This definitely works, but best keep it to ourselves because if everybody starts doing it then the whole roundabout gets clogged up and then the poor buggers who actually want the right hand lane to turn right are gonna get held up! 😖
The follow on question, which I guess might divide opinion further, is the 'two lanes into one filter' (usually roadworks) where there's a mile long queue in the left lane and the right is empty. The correct thing to do is use both lanes right up until the filter, but so many people get annoyed by the individuals who do it...
Which side of the fence are you? Do you queue or do you filter?
Definitely this. Use both lanes. The signs nearly always say this too. "The Zipper", used properly, works much more quickly than queueing in the LH lane for everyone - flow dynamics.
It's not a 'zipper' merge, it's known as the 'slingshot' manoeuvre (by going all around the roundabout). It's not strictly illegal as others point out, although could be regarded as misuse of lanes and bring 3 Points."
He is referring to the person he quoted mentioning the zipper merge seperatly clearly stating it as a follow on question.
The misusing lanes part will only ever come in to play if the manoeuvre is dangerous. It is opinion based by SOME experts that it is misuse, but unless it is done in an unsafe manner there is no breaking of rules or causing a danger and won't result in any points being given.
The manoeuvre itself is helping traffic flow, so a police officer may pull them over, but no fine or points would be given because nothing wrong was done. |
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"It's a touch situational but it could well have benefits not just to oneself.
E.g. if the queue is tailing back it could be causing an obstruction at another junction or roundabout and you may be alleviating that.
You take that very logical and sound reasoning of facts out of here! It causes feelings to get hurt.
It has no place within these walls. "
Ah shit. Guess I'll sit in isolation for 6 hours again until I've learnt my lesson. Whatever that lesson is, something about doing what angry people want or you get punished, I think. Hmm maybe I should get angry a bunch too, it seems to be more effective than trying to reason with people. |
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